Military Thread V22 
Oct 27 2016, 03:54 PM
QUOTE(MilitaryMadness @ Oct 27 2016, 03:27 PM)
The Japanese had fewer battleships and heavy guns themselves (Russians had 11 battleships against their 4 battleships), but they were more modern, faster and had better wireless radio, which the Russians lack. The Russians (contrary to common belief) also had radios, but they were of older German make and had all the instructions in German, in addition of having shorter ranges. The Japanese also had a large number of cruisers and destroyers available.
The Russians actually wanted to sneak up the straits towards Valdivostok and avoid the Japanese altogether. The fleet commander ordered all ships to go on blackout and attempted to navigate the straits at night. Initially the Japanese had difficulty in finding the Russians in the night fog and there was a danger that they could slip by unnoticed. However, unfortunately, the Russian hospital ship Orel was required by convention to be fully lit at all times, even in wartime, and the ship's lights was spotted by patrolling Japanese cruisers. These reported the position of the Russian fleet to the main Japanese force and shadowed the Russians.
Both fleets sighted each other and engaged at around 1.30 pm the next day. As the Russians initially wanted to run at full speed towards Vladivostok, there were not arrayed in a battle formation to maximize their speed. They were practically sailing in a single file at full speed. The Japanese commander, Admiral Togo, ordered his battleships and heavy cruisers to 'cross the T', sailing in front of the Russian line and firing sideways, so that the entire front and rear battery of the Japanese ships could be brought to bear against the Russian line. Meanwhile, the Russians, by sailing in a single line, can only fire their front batteries in response. By 6.30 the Russian had 4 battleships sunk, while the Japanese battleships and heavy cruisers were all still afloat, albeit with heavy damage themselves.
Crossing the T: ships in blue can fire their forward and rear batteries, maximizing firepower; while ships in red can only fire their front batteries, limiting firepower.
As night falls, the Japanese held off their attack and instead dispatched a force of 21 destroyers and 37 torpedo boats to pursue the Russians while the Japanese main force re-formed their units. Further Russian ships were sunk, including 2 battleships. During the night action, the Japanese had 3 torpedo boats sunk. By 9.30 the next morning, the remaining Russian ships have utterly routed, with the remaining senior Russian commander alive surrendered after being surrounded by the Japanese near Takeshima island. Some ships escaped to various countries like China and the Philippines (1 cruiser actually managed to reach Vladivostok) and some were scuttled by their own crews. All in all, the Russians lost 7 battleships, 4 cruisers and 6 destroyers while the Japanese had only lost 3 torpedo boats.
US Navy in last battleship sea battle in Surigao Strait also used cross the T tactic. Curiously, Nelson managed to break through Spanish-French line in Trafalgar, although he was being T-crossed. It still depends on the sailors, admirals and ship.The Russians actually wanted to sneak up the straits towards Valdivostok and avoid the Japanese altogether. The fleet commander ordered all ships to go on blackout and attempted to navigate the straits at night. Initially the Japanese had difficulty in finding the Russians in the night fog and there was a danger that they could slip by unnoticed. However, unfortunately, the Russian hospital ship Orel was required by convention to be fully lit at all times, even in wartime, and the ship's lights was spotted by patrolling Japanese cruisers. These reported the position of the Russian fleet to the main Japanese force and shadowed the Russians.
Both fleets sighted each other and engaged at around 1.30 pm the next day. As the Russians initially wanted to run at full speed towards Vladivostok, there were not arrayed in a battle formation to maximize their speed. They were practically sailing in a single file at full speed. The Japanese commander, Admiral Togo, ordered his battleships and heavy cruisers to 'cross the T', sailing in front of the Russian line and firing sideways, so that the entire front and rear battery of the Japanese ships could be brought to bear against the Russian line. Meanwhile, the Russians, by sailing in a single line, can only fire their front batteries in response. By 6.30 the Russian had 4 battleships sunk, while the Japanese battleships and heavy cruisers were all still afloat, albeit with heavy damage themselves.
Crossing the T: ships in blue can fire their forward and rear batteries, maximizing firepower; while ships in red can only fire their front batteries, limiting firepower.
As night falls, the Japanese held off their attack and instead dispatched a force of 21 destroyers and 37 torpedo boats to pursue the Russians while the Japanese main force re-formed their units. Further Russian ships were sunk, including 2 battleships. During the night action, the Japanese had 3 torpedo boats sunk. By 9.30 the next morning, the remaining Russian ships have utterly routed, with the remaining senior Russian commander alive surrendered after being surrounded by the Japanese near Takeshima island. Some ships escaped to various countries like China and the Philippines (1 cruiser actually managed to reach Vladivostok) and some were scuttled by their own crews. All in all, the Russians lost 7 battleships, 4 cruisers and 6 destroyers while the Japanese had only lost 3 torpedo boats.
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